In Tuesday’s 400 meters at the Beijing Olympics, the homestretch was a nightmare for former Longhorn Sanya Richards, as a cramping hamstring with 80 meters left caused her huge lead to evaporate into a third-place finish.
In Saturday’s 4 x 400 relay, the homestretch was her dream come true, as she anchored the United States to a come-from-behind victory and showed that she really is a champion runner.
Taking the baton with a three-meter deficit behind Russia’s Anastasiya Kapachinskaya, she methodically chipped away at the gap and dramatically edged ahead with 30 meters left to take gold. Her blistering closing leg of 48.9 seconds carried the U.S. to a 3:18.54 win, just .28 ahead of the Russians.
The win allows Richards to exit the Olympics with at least some satisfaction, and a much better mood than after her 400 defeat, in which she had been the overwhelming favorite.
This article appears in August 22 • 2008.